Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad but, if that does not work, they might consider giving them 14 clubs, a caddie and a place in the field for the 2008 Open, which tees off this morning at Royal Birkdale amid expectations that the finest players in the world - minus the injured Tiger Woods - are about to undergo the most taxing examination of their cosseted golfing lives.

It will come as no consolation to the world No1, now back in the US recuperating after a knee operation, but if there was ever an Open championship to miss, this could be the one. Sound judges were yesterday predicting a winning score significantly over par and, as the 156 players went about their final preparations (otherwise known as looking for their balls in the rough) it was easy to see why.

An unseasonably wet spring has rendered the thick stuff thicker than it should be; a recent dry spell means fairways harder and faster than anyone would wish them when the rough is this harsh; and a golf course architect with a misplaced sense of humour has disfigured this jewel of a links with one green - the 17th - with all the features required for crazy golf save a miniature windmill. The R&A's stated intention over the next four days is to identify the champion golfer of the year but, come Sunday evening, the gentlemen in blazers could be handing the trophy to the last man standing.

"The course is not a monster," declared the R&A's chief executive, Peter Dawson, yesterday in his annual eve-of-the-Open statement. "These guys can play well enough. They will be able to position the ball on the fairways, I'm sure. It will be like every championship we have; there will be a number of players playing extremely well and scoring very well, and some will struggle."

That is easy for him to say. He does not have to spend the next four days with a scorecard in his hand, battling to make par or, for that matter, battling to maintain his dignity. Those who do sounded rather more circumspect about the challenge that lies ahead, including Justin Rose. "If the wind blows, it is just about survival. It is brutally tough and you have just got to go out there and deal with it on the day," said the Englishman, who will be returning to the scene of his 1998 triumph, when he finished fourth in this tournament while playing as an amateur.

Trevor Immelman, the reigning Masters champion, sounded equally apprehensive during the course of a very thoughtful explanation of what makes the Birkdale links the toughest course on the Open championship rota. "It is very demanding off the tee, partly because a lot of the tee shots are partially blind and you can only see a sliver of fairway. The other thing is there is not much intermediate rough, which means you go from the fairways into the thick stuff," the South African said. "You are going to have to drive the ball well, especially because there are so many crosswinds and the holes dog-leg into those crosswinds. It is going to be some test, especially with the [bad] weather that has been forecast. The guy who wins this tournament on Sunday is going to be very deserving of it."

That much is certain. Less predictable, however, is the task of identifying the man who will be the most deserving. Woods' absence has, of course, given hope to many - a reality reflected in the bookmakers inability to identify a strong favourite - but, as is usual when it comes to majors, only the very best need apply.

For a brief spell in the early part of this decade the Open developed a habit of throwing up winners who were not - how can this be said politely? - from the game's upper echelon: the likes of Todd Hamilton, winner at Troon in 2004, and Ben Curtis, who prevailed at Royal St George's the year before. Woods' successive victories, at St Andrews in 2005 and Hoylake the following year, as well as Padraig Harrington's triumph at Carnoustie last year, put an end to that worrying trend.

The overwhelming sense is that Birkdale will add another thoroughbred name to the champions' roll, not least because, historically, that is what it always does. Peter Thomson, the finest links golfer of his generation, won here twice, in 1954 and 1965, Arnold Palmer in 1961, Lee Trevino in 1971 and Johnny Miller five years later. Mark O'Meara was the Masters champion in 1998 when he came here and won his second major of that year. The fact is this is a purist's golf course, a ball-striker's paradise, a theatre of champions.

Those seeking enlightenment on the eve of any Open championship can do a lot worse than spend time in the caddie shack, where years of experience and wisdom are brought to bear in pursuit of sticking it to the bookies, and yesterday the bagmen's money was riding on a select few, Robert Karlsson and Ernie Els among them. But one player found favour above all others. Sergio García - ball-striker, purist, champion - endured the agony of finishing second last year. Expect him to go one better this time.